The key elements to any art piece are arguably vision, patience and talent. Ie Roon Jung, ?08, proved that she possesses all these qualities when she won Best of Show at the ACSI [Association of Christian Schools International] Art Festival on April 30.

Jung arrived from South Korea three years ago. Her first year of high school has given her a wide circle of friends.

?I?ve learned to make lots of friends,? Jung said. ?It?s easier because high school is larger than junior high.?

Before her acceptance into a Christian school, Jung first had to be accepted into private school.

?I am a Christian, and I wanted to go to a Christian school,? Jung said. ?I had to try first just for private school because I am not a citizen here. But, going to a Christian school sounded really good.?

Parents have greatly influenced her life and morals.

?My parents want me to always be humble,? Jung said. ?My dad says to love one another all the time.?

Jung won Best of Show with her charcoal and colored pencil painting of horses running through a field.

?I was totally surprised,? Jung said. ?I thought there were people there that were better than me. I didn?t know my art was the best overall.?

Each piece the school enters is hand-selected by Sharon Scharf, art teacher, who believes all projects she submits has the potential to win.

?Everything I pick out I feel has the possibility to win Best of Show,? Scharf said. ?The judges are subjective. The winner just depends on who?s judging that class.?

Scharf has enjoyed watching Jung employ her abilities through art.

?I?ve had Ie Roon since seventh grade,? Scharf said. ?The Lord has gifted her with an abundance of creativity and patience. She has created something of quality that is unique.?

Jung professes that the high point of her year was winning the Best of Show award.

?The highlight of the year was that I got the award!? Jung laughed. ?That?s the biggest thing that?s happened.?

For more information on ACSI, visit http://www.acsi.org/web2003/default.aspx?ID=1606.